Chris Jones Calls 49ers 'Crazy' for Electing to Receive to Start OT

The Chiefs' 25-22 win Sunday over the 49ers was the first time the newish overtime rules were in play during a Super Bowl.

The Chiefs’ 25-22 win Sunday over the 49ers was the first time the newish overtime rules were in play during a Super Bowl.

After the Chiefs beat the Bills 42-36 in overtime of an AFC Divisional Game in 2022, the NFL changed the rules so each team could get a possession in the extra period.

So when the 49ers won the coin toss in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium, many thought they would choose to kick off to the Chiefs. That includes Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones.

“They’re crazy,” Jones said of the 49ers. “Because the overtime rules has changed where both teams get the ball no matter who scores. So, originally, you want to let the other team get the ball, stop them, holding (to) three, so you know what you got. Or if you stop them, they punt it, then all you have to do is kick three.”

“They’re crazy” Chris Jones reaction to the 49ers electing to receive to start OT. #Chiefskingdom #SBLVIII pic.twitter.com/6Y3bFD4312

— 610SportsKC (@610SportsKC) February 12, 2024

Instead, the Chiefs defense held the 49ers to a field goal in overtime, then Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs on a 75-yard touchdown drive to win the game.

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said the decision to take the ball was because of what could happen if the teams matched scores on their first overtime possessions.

The 49ers wanted the ball third in overtime.

“This is something we talked about with, you know, that none of us have a ton of experience of it but we went through all the analytics and talked with those guys and we just thought it would be better, we just wanted the ball third,” Shanahan said. “If both teams matched and scored, we wanted to be the ones who had the chance to go in. We got that field goal, so we knew we had to hold them to at least a field goal. And if we did then we thought it was in our hands after that.”